Love Life the Most

Venue? CHECK! PHEW, feels good. Paul and I both love the venue and know that it’ll be prefect for our wedding. It’s so nice to have such a huge thing checked off our list.

What they don’t tell you…

Wedding planning isn’t always—-An episode of “Say Yes to the Dress!” 

My mom and I LOVE watching that show together. The consultants are always wonderful and everyone is excited! There are beautiful dresses in all price ranges and often the girls find several options they love. The consultants tell them EXACTLY how they can customize and tailor to fit their body. They can find something beautiful for every body figure. The bridesmaids gush, the moms cry and after the bride gets “all jacked up” she says “YES-this is the dress” without any hesitation!

My dress shopping….well, I’d describe it as “torture” instead of a dream come true. First off, finding bridal salons isn’t easy! They aren’t open when my family and I are available and they don’t have a huge selection. I’ve been able to create a vision of the dress I want (lace, NOT strapless, a-line) but most stores don’t seem to have it.

And instead of being a blushing bride….I just BLUSH! It’s awkward standing around with everyone looking at you! Now mind you, I like attention! But in this situation, I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do. ‘Where should I put my hands’ ‘Are they done looking’ ‘Should I ask them to take a photo’ ‘Gosh can’t they hurry up hanging the dress I’m, I’m standing here almost naked!’ ‘Should I have worn different undergarments?’

And instead of crying and gushing at how good you look…we’re laughing at my boobs being up to my chin! Haha it’s so ridiculious that we have to laugh. And when they aren’t up to my chin, the cleavage is an issue. I want to look modest and beautiful on my wedding, not like I’m giving everyone a sneak peak of the honeymoon! Now I too find it funny to see my twins squeezed up to my shoulders and cleavage that would make Pamela Anderson jealous, but at the same time I’m panicking on the inside. Am I going to find a dress that fits my taa-taas? Am I going to have to settle on the look of the dress to get something that’s appropriate for my girls? 

And they also don’t tell you how much wedding dresses suck. They look so ugly on hangers, you really have to try them on to have any idea if they’re beautiful or tacky. They’re HUGE and WARM and ITCHY…and just overall, uncomfortable!!! Plus they take forever to get in and out of!

So the biggest challenge for me right now…is figuring out if I have the patience and determination to find the dress that I want. But I just found a few salons I want to look at and hopefully will find time to go soon. I’m not horribly worried that I won’t find something perfect, but I just wish it would be easier!!!

Who else loves the show “Smash”? It’s so interesting to see how Broadway musicals get made! (at least I think that this show has some truth to it.) Makes me miss acting….even though it was just small town high school plays I did, I think I was pretty good. Miss it a lot and would love to get back into it!

My Big Brother is turning 30 this year!!! (Although in November of 2010 he blogged here about turning into his parents at age 29, even though he was 28 at the time haha).

Well don’t worry Al, you aren’t the only one who confuses your age. For whatever reason, you are perpetually 23 in my mind. I guess I must have looked up to you when I was 17/18 and you were 23…I thought your life was really cool when you were that age (however your life is arguably cooler now). Forever in my mind, when I think of you, I think of you at that age! And now, you are not only very far from that age, but also hitting the exit door on the DECADE I associate you with.

But I know you’ll rock your 30’s….do so many interesting things and travel to amazing places! I hope they treat you as well as I have witnessed your 20’s treat you. I imagine there’ll be more memories that you’ll remember in your 30’s than you can recall from your 20’s ;) Read here about all the highlights of Al’s twenties!

I hope you enjoy your birthday! But if turning 30 is too hard to celebrate, than celebrate St. Patrick’s day instead with the rest of us!

I love you the most!!!

PS No I do!

Okay…this is just AWESOME! I’m not sure if any of you realize it, but Facebook just started allowing businesses/pages to use the timeline version instead of the old regular pages. I’ve been reading up on ways that businesses should use the new format.

A few articles suggest using the timeline to go over the company history. Which would work for my company too, since we have a cool company history. The article showed a few examples, one of them being Coca-Cola. You should seriously take a look at their timeline!!!

It’s incredible how they used the timeline to tell their history. It is soooo engaging and puts emotion towards a PRODUCT. Not only does their timeline go over the different designs and ads Coke has used, but more impressingly it tells a CONSUMER story! Throughout the years, they have stories about people’s memories with Coke! And they are very touching!!!

1953: I first met my husband when I was a teenage soda jerk, peeking at a good-looking guy from behind a Coca-Cola machine in 1953 in Porter Drug Store, Logansport, Indiana – They were both keepers!—Phyllis M.

1973: When I was 6 years old, my family moved to the U.S. from South Korea. None of us could speak English. One vivid memory of mine is a flight attendant on the plane asked us what we wanted to drink. My father answered, “Five Cokes.” Those were our first words in English. — John S.

1974: My husband and I met when I tried to buy a Coke from a vending machine and dropped my change down a grate. He offered change from his pocket, our eyes met and the rest is history. We sipped Coke and talked and got to know each other. We’ve been married 31 years! —Connie S.

When I was 13, I played “Spin the Bottle” for the first time with a Coke bottle.—Vicki K.

And it goes on and on!!! They did a remarkable job with this new Facebook Update! Way to go Coca-Cola, you’ve given me a lot of inspiration….and maybe a little Marketing Boner haha

Wedding planning is chugging along (is that the right phrase???)

Should have some concrete details for ya’ll* soon!!! =)

In the meantime, since you have been patient…I thought I’d post some pinteresting photos! Again, if you on pinterest you can see for yourself here at your leisure instead of waiting for me to post. 

Color Scheme: Black, White/Silver & Red….similar to this: http://pinterest.com/pin/287948969894552293/

http://pinterest.com/pin/287948969894550542/

Theme: “You are what happened when I wished upon a star: Envisioning lots of star accents & accessories….like:

http://pinterest.com/pin/287948969894823857/

http://pinterest.com/pin/237846424040266343/

Bridal Party: Get ready for either lacey or sparkley dresses

http://pinterest.com/pin/237846424040370533/

http://pinterest.com/pin/237846424040557691/

And just overall fun details that I’d love to add:

http://pinterest.com/pin/287948969894550526/

http://pinterest.com/pin/287948969894552316/

http://pinterest.com/pin/287948969894637874/

http://pinterest.com/pin/287948969894939677/

http://pinterest.com/pin/287948969894637920/

*Side note: I totally love saying ya’ll. I use it at work a lot when I’m on the phone: “And what were ya’ll thinking about doing in your bathroom?” (we do bathroom & kitchen remodeling if ya’ll didn’t pick up on that). I enjoy feeling like a Southern belle when I say it. Mental note to incorporate ya’ll more often into my vocab!

Did I mention Paul spoils me? And has really great taste in jewelry? Such a nice trait that my future hubby has!

Our anniversary was last Monday (2.27). We celebrated two years together! Two wonderful, amazing years. I can’t even put into words how Paul has changed my world and my perception of love. I can’t spend enough time with him!!!

We went out to eat at Culinary Dropouts. It’s such a fun environment and has amazing comfort foods. Think pretzel fondue & giant gourmet burgers. Yummmm! 

Paul surprised me with this gorgeous Micheal Kors watch (similar found here)! And a bouquet of roses :)  I went a sentimental route and wrote 52 things I love about Paul on a deck of cards….awhhhh! It was easy to come up with them, could have done more!

We enjoyed the night out and spending time together! The food was great, but the company was better. We’re both looking forward to celebrating many more anniversaries in the years to come.

Smile Sick Friday

What sucks more than being sick on a FRIDAY? Not much! But when you’ve been sick 12+ days, being sick on a Friday sucks even more!

I missed a day of work last week because I had a fever. Spent the day in bed alternating between freezing & sweating. I also felt a bit nauseous. Then that turned into a lovely cough. Last weekend I started to feel better! Whooo! But then….I went downhill again. The cough became a wheeze and was so bad that my throat hurt from coughing. Then on Thursday, I woke up with lovely crusty eye…that was very pink. I’ve been having really dry, red eyes in the mornings so I wasn’t positive it was pink eye. I decided to go to work but when my eye was still pink & itchy at lunch time, I decided to finally go to the Doctor. I went to a clinic at Wal-Greens and she told me I have an upper respiration infection as well as pink eye. She prescribed me some cough syrup & this funky thick liquid for my eyes. When I put the medicine in my eyes (just doing both because the 2nd eye is showing symptoms too) it stings & makes it nearly impossible to see for awhile. The cough syrup is really helping though! I’m working from home today (remote computer access rocks) and hopefully the pink eye will clear up by tomorrow (Paul’s bday).

Needless to say….this 2 week of sickness has made me fail at my lent goals :( Which is the first time I can remember that I wasn’t able to keep them. I have actually been more optimistic though, which meets one of my goals. The gym & writing on my blog haven’t been as successful. But everyday is a new day & I get to start over so hopefully I’ll start feeling better & meeting my goals!

Hope you all enjoy your weekend!!! Pink eye or no pink eye…I know I’ll have fun because it’s Paul’s birthday tomorrow & he deserves a little fun!!!